UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN

At Hofstra, geography and Geographic Information System (GIS) go far beyond maps. They help students understand how people, places, environments, and systems are connected in an increasingly complex world. Geography asks important questions about why things are located where they are, how places change over time, and how global forces shape local communities. GIS provides the technology to answer those questions through spatial analysis, mapping, and data visualization.

This interdisciplinary program combines social science, environmental science, data analytics, communications, media, public health, and geospatial technology, giving students both critical thinking skills and technical expertise. You will not just read maps, you will create them, analyze them, and use them to solve real problems. From mapping climate change impacts and social inequality to analyzing transportation networks, media markets, health outcomes, and business trends, students learn to turn complex data into meaningful insight.

Nearly every major global challenge, including public health, climate resilience, urban growth, resource management, disaster response, and infrastructure planning, has a spatial dimension. Employers across government agencies, healthcare systems, media organizations, environmental firms, technology companies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry rely on GIS professionals to make informed decisions. The demand for geospatial skills continues to grow as organizations increasingly depend on location-based data to guide strategy and operations.

A degree in geography and GIS opens the door to a wide range of career paths. Graduates work as GIS analysts, urban and regional planners, environmental consultants, public health researchers, emergency management specialists, transportation planners, market analysts, media and communications strategists, sustainability coordinators, and geospatial data scientists. Geography and GIS also make excellent second majors or minors, complementing fields such as biology, geology, political science, journalism, environmental studies, business, and computer science by adding valuable spatial and analytical skills.

At Hofstra, you gain technical expertise, a global perspective, and versatile skills that prepare you for meaningful, in-demand careers where you can make a real impact.